DWS’ Committed to Health and Hygiene Women’s Dialogue
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) today, 15 August 2017, gathered with key stakeholders at the Cedar Woods of Sandton Conference Centre to discuss the importance of women being developers, producers and implementers of products within the sanitation and hygiene industry.
The Dialogue comes at a time when South Africa commemorates Women’s Month and the heroic role that the women of 1956 played towards placing the struggle of women on the agenda of the broader liberation struggle.
Speaking on the purpose of the dialogue Minister of Water and Sanitation Ms Nomvula Mokonyane said “the dialogue seeks to reflect on the progress made thus far and to engage on the opportunities presented by the DWS’ new Sanitation Policy. The Policy is meant to mobilise society along with business and other water sector partners towards advocacy, innovation, health and hygiene in the sanitation space”.
Minister Mokonyane added that “the dialogue should also help us deal with the realities of water scarcity, whilst also making South Africans realise that it is “not always about flushing.”
In her address Minster Mokonyane also emphasised the importance of partnerships in creating economic opportunities for women to provide sanitation services including sanitary wear.
“We need to find an opportunity through the sanitation policy and the Black Broad Based Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) on how we can work with other key stakeholders to discover innovative solutions, which will assist us fight unemployment, inequality and poverty”, said Minister Mokonyane.
Minister Mokonyane said this effort at transformation requires a government that embraces the new solutions, develops policies and common standards to advance this culture and also realises the need to achieve the goals set out on the National Development Plan (NDP).
Government has achieved delivery of access to basic sanitation services to over 80% of citizens and is committed to ensure universal access by 2030 in line with the NDP’s Vision 2030. This is also a commitment towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
As she wrapped up her key note address Minister Mokonyane said “let us wake up, seize the opportunities and be seen to be dealing with issues of empowerment and inequality”.
For more information contact:
Mlimandlela Ndamase
Cell: 083 480 0014
